PSG Transfer News: Latest on Angel Di Maria and Zlatan Ibrahimovic Rumours

Angel Di Maria took a step towards completing his move to Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, with the Manchester United star jetting into Doha to complete a medical.

ESPN FC tweeted the following image of the Argentina international ahead of the tests:

It’s a transfer PSG supporters should be extremely excited about. Di Maria may have endured a torrid time at Old Trafford last season, but if he can settle in the French capital and focus on football, the Parisians will have one of the game’s most exciting talents on their books.

As we can see here, courtesy of OptaJoe, even though the ex-Real Madrid man wasn't at his best last season, his game was rich with creative ingenuity:

Should PSG be concerned about Di Maria's performance last season? Perhaps. After all, the midfielder struggled with injury problems, and upon returning to full fitness, he was unable to nail down a place in Louis van Gaal’s side in the latter stages of the 2014-15 season.

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

Indeed, the Manchester Evening News was scathing in its report that Di Maria was to have a medical in Paris, per Bleacher Report UK:

But there are some mitigating circumstances to consider. On the pitch, Van Gaal deployed Di Maria in a variety of roles, meaning the player was unable to strike up any kind of consistency at Old Trafford. Off the field, the 28-year-old and his family had to deal with the trauma of armed robbers attacking their family home in Cheshire, per BBC.co.uk.

All things considered, it’s a deal that suits all parties. The reported £44.5 million, per Simon Stone of BBC, recouped by United is a significant amount. Di Maria can get a fresh start, and PSG have a midfielder who can breath life into their attempts to win the Champions League next season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Speculation

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Paris Saint-Germain’s talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been linked with moves to Galatasaray and Milan, and speculation about a potential exit lingers.

According to the Daily Mirror, Ibrahimovic is poised to sign a three-year deal with the Rossoneri, which will make him the first player to be bought during the ownership of Bee Taechaubol, who bought out the club on Sunday. Reports in Italy (h/t Charles Perrin of the Daily Express) claim the Turkish giants have also offered Zlatan a "sizeable contract" that was rejected.

As noted here by WhoScored.com, Ibrahimovic is the standout player in Ligue 1:

To lose the striker would be a massive blow to Laurent Blanc’s side. Although the French champions are in possession of lots of attacking quality, Ibrahimovic remains a world-class performer and a player who can swing a game in an instant for his team.

But as noted by OptaJean, as the forward gets older, it seems as though his legs are starting to feel the pace of so much football at the top level:

Should the Rossoneri secure a deal, it’d be an amazing capture for the club. Ibrahimovic thrived in Serie A with Milan, Inter and Juventus; if he were to return, he’d do so as a more accomplished player and a striker who would blossom in a division renowned for its emphasis on a technical style of football.

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

PSG probably wouldn’t stand in Zlatan’s way should he express a desire to seek pastures new. After all, he’s lit up the Parc des Princes on myriad occasions for the capital club. But even with Edinson Cavani ready to step in to lead the attack, replacing Ibrahimovic’s enormous influence at this late stage of the transfer window would be an unenviable task.